Appointment Imminent. What to Expect from Gary O’Neil at Leicester – TCF – FILBERT WAY
Leicester looks to be close to announce Gary O’Neil as their new manager. He is attached to Wasserman. This is an agency that has been in connection with Leicester on many occassions. Enzo Maresca is one of their clients. Leicester might be looking to go down this path again, to find their most suited candidate.
Danny Rohl was earlier considered the main candidate. This was after it became clear Russell Martin would become manager of Rangers. Sean Dyche has drifted from consideration.
So in real who is Gary O’Neil, and what will we see going forward. He is 42 years of age. He has earlier been the manager at Wolves and Bournemouth. He was sacked at both places, but never faced a relegation from the top flight. His time in management has been in Premier League.
He had a good and proper playing career, being involved at Premier League level with Portsmouth, Norwich, West Ham and Middlesbrough.
Gary O’Neil has his coaching upbringing at Liverpool, being the assistant manager of their U23 team. He retired from playing in 2019, then just a year after moving to Anfield. He was there under Jurgen Klopp. Not the worst place in the World to start your career in coaching.
Former Wolves boss Gary O’Neil has emerged as a frontrunner to replace Ruud van Nistelrooy as Leicester City head coach, with the club narrowing down its shortlist 👔
Sky Sports News understands Gary O’Neil and former Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder are now central to… pic.twitter.com/MHEeDxlDDb
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) July 7, 2025
His work was noticed early. When Jonathan Woodgate searched for an assistant in his time at Bournemouth, O’Neil was the one to call. He remained with The Cherries when Woodgate was replaced with Scott Parker. They managed to get Bournemouth promoted.
He was the one taking over from Scott Parker. Despite managing a survival in Premier League, he had to step down from his duties. Wolves came calling and he decided to accept the challenge. His first season at Wolves was a huge success ending 14th in Premier League 2023/24.
O’Neil had a challenge last summer to get replacements in for influencial players such as captain Max Kilman, Pedro Neto and Daniel Podence. Kilman joined West Ham. Podence moved Saudi club Al-Shabab and Neto departed for Chelsea. Wolves sold three fantastic players for a total fee of £100million.
The start to the 2025/26 Premier League season was dramatic and in no way at a level the Wolves board could accept. O’Neil was dismissed on the 15th of December 2024. He had trouble in replacing his departed stars. Wolves made two vital signings in January, backing their new manager Vitor Pereira. Bringing in central defenders Emmanuel Agbadou and Nasser Djiga. They also signed midfielder Marshall Munetsi. Agbadou and Munetsi became first team options, Djiga got lesser chances.
Gary O’Neil had his eyes on two special players that he signed, Matheus Cunha and Jorgen Strand Larsen. Cunha became a permanent signing under O’Neil. Strand Larsen was one of the best moves made in Premier League last season. He was influential when the club reached safety and survived in Premier League.
People view him as a manager with a coaching-oriented approach. His strategy often depends on the type of team he faces. He has a past of coaching younger players at U23 level with Liverpool. He is known for playing 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1. The use modern analytical methods are also something he is known for. He is not as rigid as Enzo Maresca. He gives his attacking players freedom in their play.
There could a place in the coaching staff for Leicester born Ian Burchnall. Burchnall used to O’Neill’s assistant manager at Wolves. He is well known in Norway. He was the head coach of Viking. He also assisted Brian Deane during his time at Sarpsborg. Burchnall has this season been seen as an Premier League expert for Viasat. Burchnall as earlier also been a manager at Forest Green and Notts County as well as being the assistant manager of Anderlecht. Neil Cutler could be the next goalkeeper coach. He worked under Gary O’Neil at Wolves. He is currently the goalkeeper coach of England U20 team.
Gary O’Neil should be a good choice, hopefully this is an appointment to live with. Hopefully he can bring forward the young players at the club. Hopefully he will avoid jumping into the transfer market to just to add up the numbers.
With this appointment, Leicester will align with a pattern of controlled play. Recruitment will follow a structured plan. Hopefully, this approach will bridge the gap towards the academy. The Seagrave complex is excellent for aspiring footballers. It provides top-level training to become professional players. We are currently seeing that effect, hopefully managers appointed at the club will integrate that in their plans.
Odds are drifting dramatically on other candidates, this is the latest from oddschecker.
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